Denmark Residents Ask For County’s Help Against Business Owner
DENMARK, Tenn. — Some say a residential neighborhood is being destroyed all because of excessive trash from a nearby business. “Noise…trucks running up and down the road,” Ronald Nelson, who lives near the business, said. It is not just the noise bothering some residents, they said A1 Waste and Recycling Center has become a toxic waste dump. County officials said while the owner, Bill McMillen’s, permit was approved to operate a business, but it was denied for a landfill. “The county has spent years and thousands of dollars fighting for the permit to be denied,” Steve Maroney, Madison County attorney said. McMillen said he has permission to operate a recycling center and the allegations that he is running a landfill just are not true. “At one point we reported that he was burning paint cans,” Nelson said. That is why the state launched an investigation. McMillen said officials stopped by the business last month but did not find anything wrong. McMillen also said he’s appealing the county’s decision to deny his landfill permit. Residents are asking county officials to do more and stop McMillen from operating his business until the matter is resolved in court. Maroney said it is not that simple. “The county does not have the authority to stop a violation, that is up to the state.” McMillen said the next hearing for his appeal is scheduled for March.
